Brennan Honors Turner With Namesake Barge
J.F. Brennan Company (Brennan) has honored the late Michael “Mike” Turner, a former superintendent for the company, with a namesake barge. The 150-foot by 60-foot barge Michael Turner, which has a hull depth of 10 feet, was christened September 20 in North Kingstown, R.I.
The event brought together Brennan leadership, union members, colleagues, family and friends for a day to honor Turner. Brennan President and CEO Matt Binsfeld opened the ceremony by explaining why the barge carries Turner’s name and how Turner’s legacy continues to impact the company.
“We are a family business made up of incredible families,” Binsfeld said. “We work hard to foster a good and collaborative culture. Mike, by the type of person, leader and family man he was, personified our culture. It frankly hurt us all to lose such a wonderful human being who impacted us in such profound ways. Christening the Michael Turner is our opportunity to share Mike’s story with generations of the Brennan team today and decades into the future.”
Turner joined Brennan in 2021. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps and a member of the Carpenters Local 326. He was also a devoted husband to his wife, Katie Turner, father and friend. He died unexpectedly on October 26, 2024, at the age of 46.
“Mike was one of the greatest men I have ever met in my life,” friend and colleague Quentin Thorson said. “He was among the most positive, optimistic, honorable and caring individuals I have known. He approached everything he did with the utmost professionalism and truly cared about those around him, always wanting the best for everyone. No matter the task, no matter how challenging, Mike was all in. Words cannot express enough how much he meant to everyone he encountered. He is truly irreplaceable.”
As a tribute to Turner, the barge carries the words “Semper Fi” in honor of his time in the Marine Corps and the emblem of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.
Katie Turner addressed the crowd gathered for the christening. The Rev. Eric Hosmer offered a blessing for the barge and presented Katie Turner with a rosary. Katie Turner and the Turner children—Michael Jr., Teresa and Marykate—concluded the ceremony by breaking a bottle of champagne across the bow.
The barge Michael Turner was built at Feeney Shipyard in Kingston, N.Y., according to a Brennan design. Built to American Bureau of Shipping standards, the barge is classed and load-lined for ocean service, and the interior of the barge is completely painted to prevent saltwater corrosion. On deck, the barge features a Manitowoc 4100 Series II crane. The crane on the barge is a Manitowoc 4100 Series II. There are three spud wells, each with 60-foot-tall and 30-inch-diameter spuds. Coating throughout is by Carboline.
“The christening of the Michael Turner ensures that his legacy lives on in the work he loved and the company he helped to strengthen,” the company stated. “Just as Mike gave his all to every talk, this vessel will carry forward his hard-working spirit for years to come.”
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Featured Photo caption: Michael Turner’s family christens his namesake barge during a September 20 ceremony.
